UK automotive ‘in good health’

Latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that car production in March was almost eight per cent down on the same month last year because of the early Easter. A total of 127,064 cars were produced in March, more than three quarters of them for export. The equivalent figure for commercial vehicles was 18,817, almost two thirds for export. In total vehicle terms, the production figure of 145,881 was 7.9% down on March 2007 although the 481,822 for the year to date is 10.7% better than for the first quarter last year. SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “UK automotive manufacturing is in good health with strong model line-ups and a highly productive and skilled work force. The success of UK manufacturing provides important balance to the economy and helps to underpin core service sectors. “Year-to-date production volumes are up by 10.7%, although the early Easter resulted in a small decline in output compared to March 2007.”